Heritage Alliance lauds classification of Belleayre area in Shandaken

The Catskill Heritage Alliance welcomed last week’s announcement that the State Department of Environmental Conservation has approved “wilderness” and “wild forest” classifications allowing restricted uses on most of the 1,200 acres of forest it purchased around the Belleayre Mountain Ski Center from developer Crossroads LLC.

The land, located on the south side of state Route 28 between the hamlets of Big Indian and Pine Hill, was purchased by the state for $5.6 million in 2011 from Crossroads, the company proposing to build the Belleayre Resort at Catskill Park.

When it became state land the state had to decide what kind of land it would be. There are three classifications. Wilderness is the most restrictive, Wild Forest allows for a good range of recreational uses and an Intensive Use classification permits full scale development along the lines of the nearby Belleayre Mountain Ski Center with its array of lodges, parking lots, chairlifts and ski trails.

The state decided to divide the property up and use all three.

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Three hundred acres are now classified as pristine “wilderness” with no encroachment permitted other than hiking, hunting, fishing, etc. Another 630 acres on Belleayre Mountain are now classified as “wild forest,” which allows low-impact alterations for recreational use such as preserving old logging roads and building trails for mountain bikes, cross-country skiers, strollers and wheelchairs, etc.

The remaining 270 acres have been slated for Intensive use. That acreage adjoins the Belleayre Mountain Ski Center.

According to the plan released last week, the terrain and proximity to existing trails on Belleayre Mountain, as well as the Ulster & Delaware Rail line suggest this portion of the property could accommodate additional trail development that would complement the existing ski trail network.

“For example, the current parking lot and infrastructure at the adjoining Pine Hill Lake Day Use Area could provide parking for a trail system that could be expanded from the day use area to Belleayre Mountain,” the plan states.

“To allow for consideration of groomed cross-country ski trails, as well as a possible alpine (downhill) ski trail connection with the hamlet of Pine Hill, and because the terrain in the area can accommodate this additional trail development, this portion of the newly acquired property will be classified Intensive Use and added to the Belleayre Mountain Ski Center,” it reads.

But specific plans for what will be built on the 270 acres are still unclear. DEC spokesperson Wendy Rosenbach said actual trail layout would be considered through an amendment to the Belleayre Mountain Ski Center Unit Management Plan (UMP), currently being prepared to be reviewed alongside the Belleayre Resort plans later this year.

“The Draft UMP has not been finalized at this time, so proposals under the UMP are still under review,” she said.

Alliance spokesperson Kathy Nolan described the States approach as a balanced one.

“So far, DEC’s decisions have struck a good compromise, steering a middle way between different stakeholder interests. For example, the Town of Shandaken asked the DEC to designate the entire 1200 acres “intensive use,” while the Natural Resources Defense Council asked for all “wilderness.”

But Nolan’s also said that 270 acres of “intensive use” is somewhat more than her organization considers necessary, but overall, thinks the classification decisions successfully balance appropriate environmental protections with appropriate recreational use and economic considerations.

“We hope that the DEC will take a similarly balanced approach in its pending decisions on the proposed Belleayre Resort,” she added.

Crossroads spokesman Gary Gailes was pleased with the outcome as well but noted that Nolan and the Alliance continue to oppose the resort plan.

“I’m happy for any decision by the DEC that promotes and supports recreational opportunities in our region,” he said Thursday. “As for CHA’s opinions about the Belleayre Resort I’ll only say that we have a different view of what is needed in our area to build a sustainable economy for the benefit of our community. We trust all of the work that has been done by Crossroads will support our belief that the resort project will bring hundreds of good paying jobs to our area and help support our community.

“All of the issues raised by the CHA have been responded to by Crossroads in preparation for the Final Environmental Impact Statement.”